Sophie Valiant, a pioneer of cafe culture on the North Shore used to drive her van to Cremorne Wharf every morning in the 1990's for 5 years. With her espresso machine she would make coffee and sell her handmade muffins from a collapsible table.

The clientele was either commuters, tourists or for those who had time would sit on wooden stools and bask in the sun. Her clientele was consistent and the view being one of the best of Sydney Harbour. A permanent white box was then designed for her by Burton Katon Halliday where she was able to house a microwave, stove, fridge and her expresso machine and at that time the cafe was called See Sea.